Clamp for grasping storage drums



Nov. 14, 1967 J. c. CASEY CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1965 A R 05 m Ms W 1! H WC.%A 2 0 B z a: M1 W M F 1 m M N 0 m 0 2 6 m m, E

NOV. 14, Q CASEY CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 15, 1965 III!IIIIIIII/IIIIIII/IIIII A TTYS.

Nov. 14, 1967 J. c. CASEY 3,352,591

CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS Filed Nov. 15, 1965 40 3 Sheets-Sheet 3I 4/ F/g 9 '1 INVENTOR.

JAMES c CASEY ATTYS United States Patent 3,352,591 CLAMP FOR GRASPINGSTORAGE DRUMS James C. Casey, Hayden Lake, Idaho 83835 Filed Nov. 15,E65, Ser. No. 507,785 2 Claims. (Cl. 294-81) This invention relates to aclamp for grasping and lifting conventional metal storage drums.

Storage drums used to store and handle various commodities, such asliquid and dry chemicals, petroleum products, paints and othercommodities, are often both heavy and bulky. It is most difiicult forone man alone to lift such drums or to carry them from one location toanother. Therefore, the present invention is designed to provide asimple clamp to handle such drums in an upright position, using astandard winch or block and tackle to perform lifting and movingoperations.

It is a first object of this invention to provide a positive clamp forgrasping the drum which insures that the mechanical pressure used tograsp the drum will not deform or collapse the drum itself. The deviceprovides pinching action at both sides of the drum, or completely aboutits periphery, in both cases equalizing the forces on the drum so thatit will not collapse.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a clamp which ismechanically simple and which can be trusted to provide a positivegripping action for lifting purposes. The gripping force is provided bythe same force used to lift the drum, so that the drum cannot bereleased accidentally while it is suspended by the lifting device.

These and further objects will be evident from the following disclosure,which illustrates four embodiments of the invention. It is to beunderstood that these specific forms of the invention are not intendedto limit the scope thereof, which is set out in the claims appended tothe description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the clamp;

FIGURE 2 shows a top in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the clamp and a drumgrasped thereby;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the clamp shown in position at the top of adrum;

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of a second form of the invention in placeon a drum shown in section, a portion of the clamp apparatus beingsectioned;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the clamp shown in FIG- URE 5 in place on adrum end surface;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing another form of theinvention;

FIGURE 8 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of another form of the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation view of the clamp as seen from the bottomof FIGURE 9.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 through 4, the storage drum with which thisinvention is concerned is a typical metal drum 10 having side walls 11and an end wall 12. The end wall 12 can be the bottom wall of the drumor the removable top cover. In either instance, end wall -12 view of theclamp illustrated is surrounded by an upstanding rim 13 and an outwardlyprotruding bead 14.

The first form of the invention (FIGURES 1 through 4) uses a rigid bar15 which is made of channel iron. Bar 15 rests on the end wall 12 ofdrum 10. The outer ends of bar 15 are provided with abutments 21 whichrest on the upper end wall surface and which are in contact with the rim13 of drum -10 at diametrically opposed positions.

At each end of bar 15 is a slide 16 mounted on bar 15 for reciprocatingmovement parallel to the longitudinal bar axis. Each slide 16 terminatesin a downwardly bent hook 17 having an inner surface 18. The surfaces 18face toward one another in directly opposed positions. The upper surfaceof each slide 16 is engaged by a roller 20 on bar 15 to lessen thefrictional resistance to the sliding movement of the slide 16 guidedthereby.

The inner end of each slide 16 is fastened to the respective ends of alifting chain 22. When an upwardly directed force is exerted at thecenter of chain 22, the slides 16 will be drawn toward one another. Whenthis force has been released, the slides 16 can be pulled outward fromthe center of bar 15.

The use of this form of the clamp is illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4.The bar 15 is first placed on the upper end wall 12 of the storage drum10. The hooks 17 will respectively protrude outwardly and downwardlywith the inner surfaces 18 located beneath the bead 14 of the drum rim.The abutments 21 on bar 15 will be in contact with the inner surface ofthe rim 13 in direct opposition to the respective surfaces 18.Therefore, when a lifting force is exerted on chain 22 and the innersurfaces 18 are brought into contact with the side walls 11 of the drumbeneath the head 14, the movement of slides 16 and hooks 17 will belimited by the resistance of the abutments 21, which will prevent thedrum 10 from being deformed. A positive clamping action is providedbeneath the bead '14, which cannot be released during the time in whichthe drum 10 is suspended by the chain 22. This provides a safe and verysimple clamp for grasping and lifting the drum 10, whether it be emptyor filled.

A second form of the invention is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. In thiscase, bar 23, which rests on the end wall 12, is made in two sections.One section is provided with a slide 24 and the remaining section with aslot 25 complementary to the slide 24. By this structure, the twoportions of bar 23 can adjust longitudinally relative to one anotherparallel to the longitudinal axis of bar 23.

At each end of bar 23 is a hook 26 which is the clamping element forengaging portions of the outside surface of the drum side wall 11. Eachhook 26 is pivoted to bar 23 about a pivot axis designated by thenumeral 27. A connecting cable 28 has its respective ends fixed to theinner ends of the hooks 26.

In this instance, the two outer ends of the bar 23 engage the innersurfaces of the drum rim 13 to prevent it from being collapsed by thepressure of hooks 26. When the cable 28 is lifted at its center, the twosections of bar 23 will be moved outwardly and the inwardly directedlower surfaces of the two hooks 26 will be moved inwardly, thus graspingthe drum positively at two diametrically opposite positions. Again, thisforce cannot be released while drum 10 is suspended by the cable 28.

Another embodyment of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8. Inthis instance, bar 30 is rigid, having one end (shown to the right)adapted to directly abut the inner surface of the drum rim 13. Theopposite end of bar 30 is directed upwardly and is designated by numeral31. Two outwardly protruding hooks 32 are pivoted to bar 30 aboutparallel axes 29, which are horizontal and also perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of bar 30. The upwardly directed end 31 of bar 30 alsois provided with a lever 33 pivoted at 29 coaxially with the hook 32associated therewith. Lever 33 has a lower portion adapted to abut theinner surface of rim 13 at a position diametrically opposite to thecontact of rim 13 by the opposite end of bar 30.

The upper end of lever 33 and the inner end of the right hand hook 32are connected to the ends of a cable 34, which also passes beneath apulley 35 rotatably carried at the inner end of the left hand hook 32(FIGURE 7). Thus, when a lifting force is exerted at the center of cable34, the two hooks 32 will be pivoted about their respective axes 29 toengage the side walls 11 of drum directly beneath the bead 14. At thesame time, lever 33 and the opposite end of bar 30 will be forcedagainst the inner surface of rim 13. Again, the inwardly directed forceexerted on the side walls 11 will be resisted by the outwardly directedforce exerted by bar 30 and lever 33.

Another form of the invention is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. In thisinstance, semi-circular elements 36 are used to contact the side wallsof the storage drum beneath the protruding upper bead. The configurationof elements 36 is closely approximate to the outer surface configurationof the drum side walls. The central portion of each element 36 isprovided with an upwardly and inwardly directed support 39 adapted torest on the top surface of the drum rim so as to properly locate theelements 36 relative to the rim and end wall. Again, the proper positionof the elements 36 is directly beneath the rim bead.

The ends of elements 36 are pivotally connected to a long pivot link 37and a short pivot link 38 respectively. The two links 37, 38 arepivotally connected about the axis of an inwardly protruding shaft 43,also adapted to rest on the upper surface of rim 13. Therefore, supports39 and shafts 43 locate the elements 36 at four angularly spacedpositions about the periphery of the drum rim, so that elements 36 arecarried directly beneath the bead 14 about the entire periphery of thedrum 10.

The ends of elements 36 are provided with slides 40 and complementarycollars '41 which receive the respective slides 40 at each side of theclamp. The elements 36 are thus guided for movement in a horizontalplane in response to a lifting force exerted at the upper end of thepivot link 37 at each side of the clamp. The upper ends of the pivotlinks 37 are pivotally connected to a lifting bar 42.

When the element 36 are placed in proper position on a drum with pivotshafts 43 and supports 39 resting on the upper rim surfaces, theelements 36 will be located directly beneath the bead 14 of the rim 13.A lifting force at the center of the lifting bar 42 will therefore causethe elements 36 to be moved inwardly toward one another, being guided ina horizontal plane by the slides 4i! and collars 41 as well as by thecontact of the rim 13 by supports 39 and shafts 43. Collapsing of thedrum walls is resisted by the fact that the semi-circular elements 36contact the drum substantially about its entire periphery, so that theequalized force exerted toward the center of the drum in almost everyangular direction prevents the side walls 11 from deforming at anyparticular location. Again, the clamp cannot be released accidentallywhile a lifting force is exerted on bar 42.

While I have illustrated four particular forms of my invention, theseobviously do not exhaust the many possibilities available. Basically,the invention comprises opposite clamping members located directlybeneath the bead of the drum and a lifting member connected to theseclamp members to bring them inwardly against the outer drum Walls inresponse to a lifting force. The drum is grasped beneath the outwardlyprotruding bead of the drum by a force that cannot be released while theweight of the drum is being supported by the lifting device. Manyequivalent mechanical structures could be substituted in place of thoseshown. For this reason, the following claims are intended to be the onlylimiting definitions of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A clamp for grasping andlifting an upright storage drum having cylindrical side walls and arecessed upwardly facing end surface bounded by a circular rim having anoutwardly protruding bead, comprising:

first and second spaced elements opposed to one another having inwardlydirected surfaces to respectively engage the drum side walls immediatelybelow the bead;

support means movably carrying said first and second elements to locatesaid elements relative to the rim end surface and rim of the drum, saidsupport means comprising a bar adapted to rest on the drum end surface,one end of said bar being in contact with the inner surface of the drumrim;

said first and second elements being pivotally connected to said bar atopposite longitudinal ends thereof for pivotal motion about horizontalaxes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said bar;

lifting means operatively connected to said first and second elements tomove the inwardly directed surfaces thereof toward one another to causethereby the inwardly directed surfaces of said first and second elementsto engage the side Walls of the drum when a lifting force is exerted onsaid lifting means; and a lever pivoted on said bar coaxially with thepivoted element at the end of said bar opposite to the end thereof incontact with the drum rim, said lever having a portion thereof adaptedto engage the inner surface of the top rim, .said lever beingoperatively connected to said lifting means whereby said Portion of saidlever is brought into engagement with the rim when a lifting force isexerted on said lifting means. 2. A clamp for grasping and lifting anupright storage drum having cylindrical side walls and a recessedupwardly facing end surface bounded by a circular rim having anoutwardly protruding bead, comprising:

an elongated support adapted to rest on the drum end surface andincluding outwardly facing abutments at the respective longitudinal endsof the support adapted to abut the inner surface. of the drum rim at twodiametrically opposed locations;

first and second elements movably mounted on said support inlongitudinal alignment therewith adjacent the ends of the support, eachelement having an inwardly directed surface outwardly adjacent therespective support ends adapted to engage the drum side wallsimmediately below the bead in opposition to the respective ends of saidsupport;

and a flexible member connected at its ends to said first and secondelements respectively, said flexible member being adapted to urge theinwardly directed surfaces of said first and second elements toward oneanother to engage the drum side walls when a lifting force is applied tothe flexible member intermediate its ends;

said support being in the form of a rigid bar adapted to rest on thedrum end surface of one end of the bar abutting the inner surface of thedrum rim;

said first and second element being pivotally connected to said barabout parallel horizontal axes respectively adjacent the ends of thebar;

and a lever pivoted on said bar coaxially with the pivoted element atthe end of said bar opposite to the said one end thereof, said leverhaving an outwardly facing surface thereon adapted to engage the innersurface of the drum rim, said lever being operatively engaged by saidflexible member intermediate the References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSPatten 294106 Babcock 294-l06 Triestram 294-31 6 Renfroe 29490 X Bopp29490 Luther 294-90 X Carlson 294106 X FOREIGN PATENTS 165,373 11/ 1958Sweden.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. Ryan 29440 10 GEORGE F. ABRAHAM,Assistant Examiner.

1. A CLAMP FOR GRASPING AND LIFTING AN UPRIGHT STORAGE DRUM HAVINGCYLINDRICAL SIDE WALLS AND A RECESSED UPWARDLY FACING END SURFACEBOUNDED BY A CIRCULAR RIM HAVING AN OUTWARLDY PROTRUDING BEAD,COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND SPACED ELEMENTS OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHERHAVING INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACES TO RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE THE DRUM SIDEWALLS IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE BEAD; SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLY CARRYING SAIDFIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS TO LOCATE SAID ELEMENTS RELATIVE TO THE RIMEND SURFACE AND RIM OF THE DRUM, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING A BARADAPTED TO REST ON THE DRUM END SURFACE, ONE END OF SAID BAR BEING INCONTACT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE DRUM RIM; SAID FIRST AND SECONDELEMENTS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BAR AT OPPOSITE LONGITUDINALENDS THEREOF FOR PIVOTAL MOTION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXES PERPENDICULAR TOTHE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BAR; LIFTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTEDTO SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS TO MOVE THE INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACESTHEREOF TOWARD ONE ANOTHER TO CAUSE THEREBY THE INWARDLY DIRECTEDSURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS TO ENGAGE THE SIDE WALLS OFTHE DRUM WHEN A LIFTING FORCE IS EXERTED ON SAID LIFTING MEANS; AND ALEVER PIVOTED ON SAID BAR COAXIALLY WITH THE PIVOTED ELEMENT AT THE ENDOF SAID BAR OPPOSITE TO THE END THEREOF IN CONTACT WITH THE DRUM RIM,SAID LEVER HAVING A PORTION THEREOF ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACEOF THE TOP RIM, SAID LEVER BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LIFTINGMEANS WHEREBY SAID PORTION OF SAID LEVER IS BROUGHT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE RIM WHEN A LIFTING FORCE IS EXERTED ON SAID LIFTING MEANS.